The Studio
An Innovation Centre of Excellence
We’re an independent design studio based in Northampton Innovation Centre, established under the creative direction of experienced product designer Robert Meredith.
Robert first gained recognition in the design world when he was picked out by Philippe Starck as one of the next twelve great British designers for the ‘Design for Life’ BBC TV series.
He has both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Design and has worked for iconic global design brands since graduating. One of his founding beliefs is that well designed objects which function both aesthetically and commercially will eventually be integrated throughout our everyday lives.
Q&A’s With Our Creative Director
How would you best describe the studio?
An innovative, design-led space dedicated to creating extraordinary products for the kitchen.
What is the overall ethos of the brand?
To capture the sensibilities and spirit of the age within our associated marketplace.
How would you describe the in-house design style?
A contemporary design language with an emphasis towards smooth curves, sharp lines and memorable shapes.
Could you describe how the creative process begins?
The process always begins with a sketch. The most promising ideas are then carried forward from paper into the digital realm.
Where is inspiration drawn from during the creative process?
It’s drawn from a cultural context including the world of art, architecture, music, fashion, visual culture and applied aesthetics of any kind.
What is your favourite part of being a designer?
Being truly original is tough these days but staying hungry to see new combinations of things is possible. So, always staying fresh and open to inspiration is exciting.
What first attracted you to the world of design?
A curiosity and appreciation for well crafted objects even from a young age. That curiosity grew naturally into learning the necessary skills to create designs for the love of the craft.
Why is the brand called Meredith England?
The name Meredith is in reference to my surname. This is combined with the name England to highlight the country of origin for the goods we produce.
What makes the brand intrinsically British?
A readiness to embrace both advanced technologies and traditional techniques. It’s this mixture of the old with the new that is inherently British.
Why did you decide to set up the studio outside a major city?
It’s a unique moment in time when a company can have a design studio anywhere in the UK, create working prototypes via new technological advances, have all the production taken care of within a 100 mile radius and offered up to a like-minded audience worldwide via a website.
When setting up the studio what was the best piece of advice you were given?
Go straight to your copy of the dictionary and cut out the word ‘impossible.’
Where was your favourite meal and what were you served?
That would have to be during a road trip around America in my early twenties. It was a serving of ‘Eggs Benedict’ from a little breakfast cafe on Haight Street in San Francisco.
Are there any essential reference books in the studio that you’d recommend?
‘The Art of Looking Sideways’ by Alan Fletcher, ‘A Technique for Producing Ideas’ by James Webb Young and ‘The Exploring Spirit’ by Daniel J. Boorstin.
What are the future plans for the studio?
A continued commitment to designing products that reflect our signature style along with a dedication to working with manufacturers and materials that guarantee British authenticity and values.
